Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #140- A change of scenery

The Quiver Tree Forest (Kokerboom Woud in Afrikaans) is a forest and tourist attraction of southern Namibia. It is located about 14 km north-east of Keetmanshoop, on the road to Koës, on the Gariganus farm. It comprises about 250 specimens of Aloidendron dichotomum, a species that is also locally known as the quiver tree (Afrikaans: kokerboom) because San people traditionally used its branches to make quivers. The forest is spontaneous; the tallest quiver trees are two to three centuries old. The forest was declared a national monument of Namibia in 1995.

The quiver tree is also known for looking upside down because the “leaves” look somewhat similar to roots. This tree has a long history of beliefs that it will bring good luck to anybody that worships a tree and nurtures it. Since diamonds are very rich in Namibia, people say that if one of these trees is dug up, one will get diamonds in their lifetime, but since these trees are blessed nobody wants to dig them up.

Near the forest, there is another site of natural interest (itself a tourist attraction) for its geology, the Giant’s Playground, a vast pile of large dolerite rocks. – Wikipedia

Quiver tree

The Lens-Artists Challenge is hosted this week by  Beth